A fiery spell from allrounder James Faulkner has left NSW staring down the barrel of an outright defeat in the Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at Bellerive.
Faulkner ripped through the Blues’ top order late on day three to have the visitors struggling at 4-75, a lead of just 71, and with an injured Simon Katich needing to play one of the gutsiest innings of his career.
The Tigers left-armer, who was recently picked up at the IPL auction for $190,000, removed former Test stars Usman Khawaja (14) and Steve Smith (seven) as well as first innings runmaker Ben Rohrer with a brute of a ball to finish with figures of 3-34 from nine overs.
Phil Hughes’ was the other wicket to fall, the Test discard playing some cracking off-side shots in making 36 before he was caught at second slip by Luke Butterworth off Jackson Bird.
At stumps after NSW had taken a bad light call, despite the floodlights being on in the twilight fixture, Peter Nevill was unbeaten on six and Stephen O’Keefe yet to score.
Katich was struck in the face when batting on Monday and didn’t field after he was taken to hospital for X-rays, but he will need to pad up some time on day four on a rescue mission for the Blues.
Faulkner’s efforts capped a good day for Tasmania, who claimed first innings points when they went past NSW’s total of 7(dec)-341 and immediately closed their own first dig at 7-345.
Captain George Bailey led the way with a swashbuckling 117 off 140 balls, his third century of the Shield season enhancing his claims for higher duties in the longer forms and ensuring there was still life in a match marred by rain on day two.
Bailey hit 20 fours and a six, sharing a partnership of 138 with opener Steven Cazzulino, who made 87.
Resuming at 0-81, Cazzulino and Ed Cowan reached their century opening stand before the Test opener was caught behind for 47 attempting to pull Scott Coyte (2-64).
Mark Cosgrove (44) and Luke Butterworth (22) kept up the free-scoring after Bailey had been caught by Hughes cutting left-armer Josh Lalor (3-73).
With seven wickets down, keeper Brady Jones (4no) smacked a boundary through midwicket to pass NSW’s score and the Tigers walked off.
Both sides are desperate for points to chase top sides Queensland and Western Australia.
